As kind of a follow up from my gas rant, I am also adding to the fact that cost of living in general has gone up considerably. It seems as though just merely surviving with wages that do not increase has become the norm.
So now, many people are finding creative ways to save money, reduce spending, and still have fun on occasion.
So what are some of the things we can do to keep away the hand-to-mouth syndrome of living? We can start with a modest savings account. I know, I know, you have to have money to do that, right? Right. If you already have a bank account, ask your sales rep how to get a low or no balance savings account, and arrange to transfer a dollar a week. Not a lot you say? You are right, but it’s a start. As time goes by, perhaps you can increase it to two dollars or even five dollars a week!
Next, let’s look into groceries. It used to be that you could buy groceries and actually save money by taking a lunch or cooking at home for dinner and breakfast. Not anymore. It costs about as much, even more in some cases, as buying your lunch. If you are into fast food, it’s even cheaper! So how to get around that? Sometimes spending a little time with a lot of pasta can make all the difference. Pasta is great as a filler, plenty of carbs, is good for you, and you can add cheese, meat (ground turkey is awesome!), veggies, and, of course, ground beef. If you buy the pasta by the pound, like at Henry’s or a similar market, it is really cheap! Now you will have some hearty meals that you can warm up all week long.
Now how about those credit cards? Interest rates and penalties are through the roof, thanks to fraud and bad credit marks. So what to do? Pay them off and never use them again! Credit cards are evil little traps that suck you in and never let you out without paying a fortune. Remember that dinner you bought six months ago on the credit card? The dinner may have passed through your system a long time ago, but you are still paying for it…with interest!
It sounds easier than it is, but credit cards should only be used for emergencies, and not to buy groceries or things you don’t need. Check into transfering your credit card balanced into a lower rate loan or credit card. This way, if you are unable to pay off the cards right away, you can at least reduce your monthly payments and save in interest.
Shop around on the internet or in your town for the best deals. Make use of those flyers and coupons that come in the mail or the newspaper. Every dime you can save adds up the more you use them. If at all possible, stay away from any monthly or yearly recurring costs, other than utilities.
Do you really need that cell phone? Cell phones and cell phone services are outrageously expensive, and, with VOIP available with many cable companies and DSL, making calls are much cheaper than they used to be. Many digital phone services charge one flat rate - that’s it! Those cell phones can cost an arm and a leg, especially with texting and internet access. Get rid of them!
Trips and vacations. (sigh) With the cost of gas that really puts a damper on road trips! But many towns/cities have parks and public venues to go see and play in. You don’t have to drive four hours to have fun!
I know, it sucks to have to cut back on things, especially nice things, or fun things to do and pinch pennies. It’s only going to get worse, and we need to prepare for the future, near and far. No one says you cannot take trips or have a little fun now and again, just do it in moderation.
How do you manage finances? What works best?
eating together, and talking about their day - as if this is a miracle cure-all for the worlds’ ills. In many cultures it’s considered rude to talk at the dinner table, so how would that work?
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